Martial gem lifts resurgent United into fourth place

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer challenged Manchester United to win the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four after Anthony Martial’s sublime strike inspired their 3-0 win over struggling Fulham on Saturday.

Solskjaer’s side took the lead through Paul Pogba’s clinical finish early in the first half at Craven Cottage.

But it was Martial who stole the show as the winger raced over half the length of the pitch before finishing emphatically to double United’s lead before half-time.

That swaggering solo effort was followed by the influential Pogba’s second-half penalty as United moved into fourth place, one point above Chelsea, who face Manchester City on Sunday.

Winners of six consecutive away games in all competitions for the first time since May 2009, United are firmly in the hunt for a top four finish after trailing 11 points behind those places on the day Jose Mourinho was sacked in December.

“The top four is a big thing. There are so many games left, but we hope to stay in the top four. We can’t worry about what other teams do,” Solskjaer said.

United have won 10 of 11 matches in all competitions since Solskjaer replaced Mourinho as interim boss.

Down-playing his contribution to the turnaround, Solskjaer said: “It’s not me making a difference to the club, it’s the whole team together.

“We’ve done really well in the 11 games, but it’s never about one person.”

United remain unbeaten under their former striker Solskjaer, who has lifted the gloom from the unlamented Mourinho’s divisive reign and put himself in contention to land the job on a permanent basis.

Avram Glazer, part of the family that owns United, was watching from the stands, fuelling more talk that Solskjaer could be in charge beyond this season.

“I spoke to him after the game. They are all happy because we won the game,” Solskjaer said.

United’s stroll by the banks of the River Thames was the perfect preparation for their Champions League last 16 first leg against Paris Saint Germain at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

“It was ideal preparation. After we scored the first goal we played fantastic,” Solskjaer said.

With United’s clash against PSG on his mind, Solskjaer made six changes, leaving out Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Victor Lindelof.

Fulham had an early chance when Luciano Vietto reached Andre Schurrle’s cross, only to scuff his half-volley wide.

But on a blustery afternoon, United were about to blow Fulham away.

They took the lead with a superbly constructed goal that exposed the Premier League’s leakiest defence in the 14th minute.

Ander Herrera deftly evaded a sliding lunge from Jean-Michael Serri and picked out Martial on the edge of the Fulham area.

– Electric United –Martial’s perfectly-weighted pass caught Fulham flat-footed and Pogba took Sergio Rico by surprise with a fierce strike from a tight angle that flashed past the Fulham keeper at his near post.

It was Pogba’s seventh goal since Solskjaer took charge, underlining how the France star has come out of his shell following the departure of his nemesis Mourinho.

Since Solskjaer’s arrival, Pogba, now deployed in a free-roaming role that better suits his personality, has been directly involved in more goals, either scoring or assisting, than any other Premier League player.